Meerut: 67 students suspended for cheering Pakistan in cricket match

Meerut: Nearly 70 Kashmiri students of a Meerut university were suspended on Tuesday, reportedly for cheering Pakistan during a cricket match.

A fight reportedly erupted between students of the privately run Swami Vivekanand Subharti University after Pakistan defeated India in the Asia Cup match on Sunday.

The university said some Kashmiri students celebrated Pakistan's victory and raised slogans in the community hall of the hostel, which led to a clash with other students and escalated into stone-throwing.

The university suspended all 67 Kashmiri students of one hostel block and asked them to leave, but no action was taken against the other group. Around 200 Kashmiri students are taking engineering and law courses in the university.

Officials said the students had committed an "anti-national act" and also vandalised hostel property.

"The students were suspended for creating a ruckus on campus and shouting pro-Pakistan slogans, which caused tension on the campus," said RK Garg, the university registrar.

Officials said it was necessary to remove the students "as a precaution" as the situation was volatile. They said they feared the violence would spread to other parts of Meerut town, which is known to be communally sensitive.

The suspended students were reportedly escorted by police and university officials to Ghaziabad, about an hour's drive away. Some of them have returned to Jammu and Kashmir and others are staying with friends, hoping to return to the university soon.